By JANE DOE
NEW YORK (AP) — In a surprising move, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the appointment of eight new vaccine policy advisers to replace the previous panel that was dismissed earlier this week.
The new advisers include a scientist known for his work on mRNA vaccine technology and a vocal critic of COVID-19 vaccines, as well as a leading opponent of pandemic-era lockdowns.
Kennedy’s decision to disband the previous 17-member panel was met with criticism from doctors’ groups and public health organizations, who expressed concern that the new advisers may align with Kennedy’s stance on reevaluating longstanding vaccination recommendations.
Among the new appointees to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is Dr. Robert Malone, a former mRNA researcher who gained prominence during the measles outbreak and has since become a close advisor to Kennedy.
Malone, who operates a wellness institute and hosts a popular blog, gained notoriety during the COVID-19 pandemic for spreading conspiracy theories about the outbreak and vaccines. He has made appearances on conservative media outlets promoting unproven treatments for measles and COVID-19.
He has made controversial claims, such as suggesting that Americans were coerced into getting the COVID-19 vaccines and insinuating a link between the vaccines and a form of AIDS. Malone has also downplayed the severity of deaths related to a major measles outbreak in the U.S.
Other new appointees include Dr. Martin Kulldorff, a biostatistician and epidemiologist known for co-authoring the Great Barrington Declaration, which argued against pandemic shutdowns. Dr. Cody Meissner, a former ACIP member, was also named to the committee.
Kennedy announced the appointments in a post on social media on Wednesday.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, established in 1964, provides recommendations to the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC typically approves these recommendations regarding the use of FDA-cleared vaccines, which are widely followed by healthcare professionals and influence vaccination programs.
Contributions to this report were made by Associated Press reporter Amanda Seitz.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department is supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is responsible for all content.
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